You know it when it hits you… it just clicks into place, right? You might be tipping up your water bottle for a quick drink before jumping in the car to head home, bummed you didn’t see any of those bighorns Valley of Fire is known for. As your head tilts back to take a swig, you look up and—bam—13 of those babes perfectly silhouetted against vibrant red rocks—at golden hour. A totally unplanned magic moment hits you square in the face, something you know you won’t be able to re-create… something you could never ever again pay to achieve. It just unfolds in all the right ways… it’s a perfect, happy accident.

Moments like these change the way we remember that place from then on. And here’s the deal when it comes to Nevada: so many of these enchanting instances are actually surprisingly easy to attain. They’re not just entries on some weird wishlist that you have to pay gobs of money to tick off, there’s no need to be in competitive bodybuilder shape to get there, and you definitely don’t need to fight off thousands of other people to grab that specific spot at exactly that right time. When it comes to exploring the unsurpassable and unexpected beauty at Nevada’s State Parks, their most cherished quality is totally simple: It’s easy to be there. No fighting for parking, no squashing up against the hordes against a handrail... none of that mess. In fact, you may even find yourself absolutely alone with nobody else but mother nature in some stunning scenic situations. It’s that next-level.

You may know already what’s up with Tahoe… maybe even with Valley of Fire. Which is great; they’re famous for a reason. But the rest of Nevada’s 16 are equipped with plenty of other marvelous qualifiers —things that set them apart from any other, boasting totally snag-worthy magic moments you’ll soon be striving to add to (and then tick off) the dang list. So tally ho! And hey, you may even earn some free swag while you’re in the thick of it.

12. PAYING HOMAGE TO THE 156-YEAR-OLD MILL RESPONSIBLE FOR PROCESSING BAFFLING AMOUNTS OF SILVER THAT BUILT A LION’S SHARE OF THE WEST COAST

TravelNevada PRO TIP: Valley of Fire is nothing short of stunning, especially early morning hours or golden hour. To experience these magic moments IRL, be sure to plan your trek to the Park ahead of time and get your hands on a campsite. Otherwise, you’ll be breaking a handful of rules that are taken very seriously—being in the park before sunrise or after dark is considered trespassing. But marrying camping with of of Nevada’s most spectacular state parks? Count. Me. In.

adventures

From the flora and fauna of the alluring Mojave Desert, to tales of pioneers past, right down to the very start modern civilization in the Las Vegas Valley, if anyone is sure to get you psyched on some Nevada history, it’s David. Click to hear why.